Published on 6/27/2026
The success story of the Yemeni woman, Hayat Al-Ashmouri, 31 years old, was not limited to the personal level; Rather, this success turned into a lifeline and hope for about 2,000 blind people in various Yemeni governorates, following up on their conditions and supporting their needs through her tireless work in the “Al-Aman Association for the Care of Blind Women.”
Hayat recalls the beginnings of her loss of sight with a calm reconciliation with fate, saying in her interview with Al Jazeera: “Losing sight is undoubtedly difficult, but I have always believed that losing sight does not definitely mean losing the world or hope.”
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She turned this life of faith into fuel for her educational journey; With the support of her family and the Al-Aman Association for the Care of Blind Women, the young Yemeni woman achieved a remarkable achievement by obtaining sixth place in the Republic of Yemen in the high school level. She did not stop here, but graduated from the university with a major in international business administration, and is currently preparing to obtain a master’s degree from the University of Science and Technology in the capital, Sana’a.
Hayat’s path was not strewn with roses. In addition to the challenge of disability, she faced societal and administrative obstacles that she summarizes in two points: society’s dual view, which Hayat describes as oscillating between the “view of excessive compassion” that perpetuates disability, and the “view of belittlement” that deprives the blind of opportunity and merit, as well as logistical challenges that include the scarcity of audio curricula for graduate students, the absence of prepared infrastructure, and the transportation crisis that restricts the movement of blind women. To access training and work.
Despite this, Hayat asserts with certainty: “I always believed that I must reach my goal, even if I encounter difficulties, I must overcome them.”
Today, Hayat goes beyond her personal ambition to lead change from her position as a follow-up and evaluation officer at the Al-Aman Association for the Care of Blind Women. Her efforts and the association’s activities are summarized in following up with more than 2,000 Yemeni blind women by telephone and digitally to determine their needs.
Among the most prominent services provided by the association is educational and rehabilitation support by teaching Braille, providing adapted curricula and audio Qurans, as well as providing training programs that help blind women rely on themselves and engage in society. In the digital space, Hayat is active through social media platforms to defend the rights of people with disabilities and correct the stereotyped image around them.
On the occasion of the World Day for Hearing and Visual Disability, which falls today (June 27), Hayat Al-Ashmouri sends an inspiring message to everyone who experiences it: “Disability is never the end of the road, but rather the beginning of a road filled with dreams, ambitions, and goals. This challenge gives those who have it a stronger motivation to reach it, because we have the will.”
